I am so glad that you linked this to today’s post. What a wonderful reflection. More and more I find myself embracing my own Celtic roots (Scots and Irish) and spirituality. Yesterday we did a house blessing using a liturgy from the Northumbria Community’s Celtic Daily Prayer and asked Brigid’s blessing not only on the house but on the old oak tree in our backyard.
While Denise was unpacking some boxes in the kitchen, I was on your Zoom call in the office which has no furniture yet but I was able to sit on a barstool and use a shelf in the closet to hold my iPad! We are gradually moving our stuff and will really begin to move once the garage apartment where our youngest will be living until he figures out his plan B… long story that involves serious anxiety issues and depression.
Thanks in part to military service, I deal with anxiety and depression along with SADD so I can definitely relate to my stepson and to what you have described.
Thanks so much again for this post and for the virtual visit yesterday!
Even though I am not preaching full-time, I would be interested in the conversation you mentioned yesterday about preaching in these challenging times. Once the move is completed, I hope to settle down into more of a routine where I can regularly blog.
MaryAnn, you mention that it’s hard to know or explain to someone else where you are in your struggle. I remember, years ago, when friends asked me where I was in my therapy. Naively, I tried to talk about the issues and insights I was dealing with - which they couldn’t understand and was frustrating for me. My therapist said I should have answered “in McLean”!
Nancy, you've nailed the conflict between wanting to honor the depth of response the question deserves, while also guarding one's heart and/or realizing that a lot of people don't want or can't really appreciate the various details. "In McLean" is perfect and funny!
I’ve put off reading “you” as what you write is more than just words on the page but thought and heart pieces that need savoring and time to ingest and a quiet moment with more quiet and moments afterwards. Reading this post reminds me that I need to find many more of these quiet moments to read your wonderful words and meaning.
"Dread is just a prejudice against the future." That's a keeper. And "stay in today as much as you can." I worked through the Healthy Habits Challenge on Insight Timer during January, and the last day's was titled "Goal Setting." After I finished groaning inwardly, I took the 26 minutes with it, and oh my. Not your "career this, financial that, relationships the other" kind of goal setting. More like, at the end of it, "Stay in the present, enjoying those I love." (Of course, I have to h/t MaryAnn for pointing me to Insight Timer in the first place, back in October 2018!)
I am so glad that you linked this to today’s post. What a wonderful reflection. More and more I find myself embracing my own Celtic roots (Scots and Irish) and spirituality. Yesterday we did a house blessing using a liturgy from the Northumbria Community’s Celtic Daily Prayer and asked Brigid’s blessing not only on the house but on the old oak tree in our backyard.
While Denise was unpacking some boxes in the kitchen, I was on your Zoom call in the office which has no furniture yet but I was able to sit on a barstool and use a shelf in the closet to hold my iPad! We are gradually moving our stuff and will really begin to move once the garage apartment where our youngest will be living until he figures out his plan B… long story that involves serious anxiety issues and depression.
Thanks in part to military service, I deal with anxiety and depression along with SADD so I can definitely relate to my stepson and to what you have described.
Thanks so much again for this post and for the virtual visit yesterday!
So good to see you, Michael--and you were so present to the conversation, I would have had no idea that there was upheaval around you!
Prayers for you and your dear ones...
Thank you for your prayers ♥️
Even though I am not preaching full-time, I would be interested in the conversation you mentioned yesterday about preaching in these challenging times. Once the move is completed, I hope to settle down into more of a routine where I can regularly blog.
A different kind of pulpit! Will keep you posted.
Thank you for Celtic insights and grace to you for living where it snows
On the first of February, the day after my cousin left this world in Alabama we awoke to sunshine and robins.
I was with her for her last week as family and nurse and lead my first funeral next week. Through it all God’s grace has been sufficient
Sending peace and gentleness your way, Cherie... giving thanks for the life of your cousin.
MaryAnn, you mention that it’s hard to know or explain to someone else where you are in your struggle. I remember, years ago, when friends asked me where I was in my therapy. Naively, I tried to talk about the issues and insights I was dealing with - which they couldn’t understand and was frustrating for me. My therapist said I should have answered “in McLean”!
Nancy, you've nailed the conflict between wanting to honor the depth of response the question deserves, while also guarding one's heart and/or realizing that a lot of people don't want or can't really appreciate the various details. "In McLean" is perfect and funny!
I’ve put off reading “you” as what you write is more than just words on the page but thought and heart pieces that need savoring and time to ingest and a quiet moment with more quiet and moments afterwards. Reading this post reminds me that I need to find many more of these quiet moments to read your wonderful words and meaning.
Thank you… 💛
"Dread is just a prejudice against the future." That's a keeper. And "stay in today as much as you can." I worked through the Healthy Habits Challenge on Insight Timer during January, and the last day's was titled "Goal Setting." After I finished groaning inwardly, I took the 26 minutes with it, and oh my. Not your "career this, financial that, relationships the other" kind of goal setting. More like, at the end of it, "Stay in the present, enjoying those I love." (Of course, I have to h/t MaryAnn for pointing me to Insight Timer in the first place, back in October 2018!)
Glad you’ve gotten a lot out of it!